Ok, sitting here in about 3 foot of snow and the wind chill around -25 with a
temp of 4 degrees, I said to myself -- Self what would the guys need to know as
far as what tackle to bring to Lake Okeechobee?

At least 4 rigs -- with all the grass and weeds, plan on flipping and pitching
at least some of the time. Spinner baits, spoons soft jerk baits worked over,
around and through the grass are excellent choices. Some topwater, rattle traps
and shallow running baits may be good producers depending on the weather. Plan
on using a soft plastic bait a large portion of the time. Choose any method you
like, they all will produce -- on top, texas, carolina rigged, whacky or
whatever your favorite is. Like finesse fishing? Bring a spinning outfit with
10 pound test to fish the canals and Kissimee River with. Spool the rest of
your outfits with 14 pound test and up. The darker water in Okeechobee makes
spooking the fish with your line almost nonexistent so I like to use 20, 30 and
even 50 pound Power Pro or Fireline in the grass. Your choice but you will need
heavier line in the tough stuff.

What Colors Moe? -- If you need to pair down, here are some color hints that
will usually work on Okeechobee.

Hard baits -- Chrome/Blue or Black, Gold, Silver and Firetiger. Bluegill and
threadfin shad abound in the lake and are the main forage of the bass.

Spinner Baits - White if you don't have white bring white. Chartreuse, black
and red also produce as does firetiger. Don't get me wrong, you can catch them
on any color - this is just a general guide.

Spoons, 1/2 or 3/4 oz weedless Gold or Silver no need for anything else here.

Soft Baits -- Bring Flukes -- Zoom watermelon, watermelon red, white are 3 good
choices. Gambler Flapping shads in the same colors. Trick worms in Junebug,
white, banana and bubblegum. Your favorite worms in black, junbug,red shad,
watermelon. cotton candy, fire and ice, blue/black, or any color you have
confidence in should do you. Bring some Komini or senkos in watermelon, junbug
and redshad. Lizards and crawdad baits in blue/black, junbug and redshad.
Weights from 1/16 to 1 1/2 oz's depending on where you fish and wind
conditions.

I will try to put everyone that ask on fish, if you look for fish on your own,
remember this -- clean water -- if the water is muddy you can catch some fish
but you have to hit them in the nose. Okeechobee bass prefer cleaner water to
feed in. By clean, I do not mean clear, just not muddy.

Hope this helps!!
--
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no
trade-in value.
Good Fishing - Moe
Moe's Guide Service (Lake Okeechobee) - http://moebassguide.com
Outdoor Frontiers http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com/index